Brumpton and Burnett brought in for Carlisle
Last updated 09:14, Friday, 10 October 2008
CARLISLE have been forced into changes for the North Two East visit to Morpeth because of injury worries to several players.
Carlisle had to settle for a draw at home to Ilkley but were a shade unlucky with a dubious penalty award in the dying seconds of the match.
Nevertheless there were some heartening signs in the 15-15 draw that improvement is on the horizon.
Martin McGimpsey, who damaged a calf muscle in the warm up before the game has not recovered, and that old soldier Martin Burnett, still capable of delivering the goods, steps up for his first senior outing of the season.
The other change in the pack sees Lee Brumpton coming in at number eight for the injured Mark Barron.
The backs are unchanged from last week.
There are two new boys on the bench, though, with Jonathan Strickland as the front row replacement and Ross Olney for the backs. Scott Rattray keeps them company.
Against Ilkley there was work to do at half-time for Carlisle as they trailed 12-0.
But they came back well and scored tries through Chris Harris and George Graham, one of which Graham converted.
Then he put over a penalty to give Carlisle the lead and it stayed that way until Ilkley put over the late penalty to snatch the draw.
Penrith produced their best display of the season to thrash Durham City 73-5 and inflict the third defeat of the season on the visitors.
Penrith had things all their own way and produced some excellent rugby, scoring their 73 points before Durham City grabbed a consolation try in the last minute.
The 11 tries came from Martin Armstrong (2), Ioan Lewis (2), Steve Wood (2), Gavin Young, James Stainton, James Sanderson, Paul Newton and Andrew Dawson.
Wood converted eight and Stainton improved one.
Penrith have another home game tomorrow when they host Pontefract and the squad will be on similar lines apart from prop Ben Lanighan who has returned to his former club, Workington.
Aspatria travel to Durham City tomorrow and will want to add to their hosts’ problems, but will expect a reaction from them after the Penrith drubbing.
The Black Reds had gone down 21-16 at Billingham and once again it was the final quarter that found out the Cumbrians.
They had been leading 16-7 but conceded two converted tries, the second one five minutes from time to lose out.
To make matters worse they had hard-working back-row forward Gary Hodgson sent-off in the last minute for a high tackle.
Joint coach Mike Scott said: “In many ways it was our best performance of the season so far and for a long time we looked comfortable and in control.
“It certainly isn’t a fitness thing why we are suffering late fade-outs and I think it might be more of a mental problem.
“There were a lot of pluses to come out of the game, particularly the way our scrummage stood up. Paul Miller came in at prop and along with Derek Benson
and Ian McDowell, the front row was outstanding.”
Scott had kicked three penalties and a conversion with Andrew Miller scoring the try.
For the trip to Durham City Aspatria will be without forwards Ian McDowell and Mark Bowe but Graeme Andrews and Mark Cottam both come back on.
Dan Rayson is available again and Lee Askew is back from holiday but the back division will have to be shuffled round as Stephen Davidson is out with injury.
In North Lancs Cumbria Wigton will be the third county side to take on Burnley – and so far Workington and Keswick have come out on top against them.
On Saturday Wigton lost 20-11 at Aldwinians but it was one try apiece and the penalties decided things in the home side’s favour.
Coach Malcolm Brown said: “The referee’s interpretation of the law changes was different to what we’ve been used to but we weren’t smart enough to deal with that.
“They kicked five penalties to our two and that was the difference.
“We showed we could win possession but it was so frustrating to concede the penalties that we did.
“We are just lacking a little bit of experience at the moment with a lot of young players.”
Andrew Logue kicked the two penalties and Dan Reed scored the try after a clever kick through by David Hanabury.
Wigton will keep an unchanged pack for the visit of Burnley while David Warwick and Richard Moffat, unable to travel with the first team last week, are back in the squad.
Keswick went down 25-14 at Fleetwood but gave a very good account of themselves as they continue to enjoy life in the higher flight.
“The lads all want to learn from playing at the higher level and I am sure they will. It’s quicker, hard but clean and we’ve quickly learnt that any mistakes are punished,” said coach Alan Gray.
John Hine landed two penalties and a drop goal while Viv Wilmott added a late try.
Tomorrow Keswick entertain Heaton Moor and will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent home record.
In the Cumbria League Aspatria still don’t know whether the Eagles will have a game tomorrow. Gosforth Greengarth haven’t played so far and earlier in the week only had ten players but were hoping to get enough rustled together.
Moresby were another side who couldn’t get enough players last week so their game at Creighton was postponed.
Creighton will certainly get a game this week-end when they go to Netherhall - a team they will find seriously embarrassed by last week’s heavy 53-5 defeat at Egremont.
Wigton Wanderers go to Whitehaven after putting-up a decent effort in a 37-17 home defeat against St. Benedict’s.
Stuart Dixon, Mike Armstrong and Ollie Dearden scored the Wanderers tries, one of which was converted by David Warwick.
For the trip to Whitehaven the Wanderers will be strengthened by the inclusion of ex-Penrith skipper James Lund, Mark Gilroy and Mark Thompson.
Like the senior XV, Carlisle’s second string – the Crusaders - have some injury problems
But nevertheless they are able to field a good XV for the trip to the north east where they also play Morpeth.
Skipper 'Hess' Liddle will be looking for a continuation of the effort levels shown in the match with Tynedale last week.
The thirds had to call off the trip to Silloth last week, but hopes are high for the visit of St Benedict's in the Cumbria Shield League.
